By Udbhav Bhargava
The News
A Himalayan butterfly called Golden Birdwing has been registered as India’s largest butterfly. The discovery was made at Bhimtal, UK’s Butterfly Research Centre. With a wing span of 194 mm, the species’ female at 106 mm is much larger than the male. The female Golden Birdwing was reported in Didihat, Uttarakhand from. The specimen is housed at the Bhimtal Butterfly Research Centre. The zoological or scientific name of the newfound butterfly is Troides Aeacus. Butterflies and moths belong to the zoological order of Lepidoptera. The only measurement used in the study of Lepidoptera is wingspan. With a wingspan of 194 mm, the Golden Birdwing has dethroned the previous owner of the title, the Southern Birdwing having a wingspan 190 mm.
The Previous Record
Southern Birdwing (Wingspan – 190 mm) , zoological name – Troidos Minos
It had been recorded by British military officer and lepidopterist Brigadier William Harry Evans in 1932. He provided wingspans of all then known butterfly species from the Indian subcontinent and his book remains the standard work on the subject. But the specimen which he measured was unknown, and no other species butterfly measured as much as the 190 mm one, that he reported.
Lepidopterist is a person who studies or collects butterflies and moths.
The world’s biggest butterfly Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing is the world’s largest in terms of both size and wingspan in butterfly species, with females reaching slightly over 250 mm (9.8 inches) of wingspan. Mainly found in the Eastern Papua New Guinea.
List of Butterfly Parks/House in India
- Bangalore
- Srirangam
- Trichy
- Pune
- Chandigarh
- Thane
- Goa
- Sikkim
Importance of butterflies
Pollination – Butterflies are attracted to colorful flowers, so they need to feed on nectar. As they do so their bodies collect pollen and transfer it to other plants.
Indicator Species – An indicator species in that environment offers details about the overall state of the environment and of other organisms. They represent the condition and changes in environmental conditions as well as compositional aspects of the population.
Butterflies in India – India currently has 1,327 Butterfly species.
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